9.25.2010

Today is a beautiful day in New England - it's warm. It's sunny and clear. It's also the 25th of September - and this means a few things. *It's fall! Summer - you were great, but I'm ready for the next season. Buh-bye!*Like it or not, it is 3 months until Christmas. I have a few projects already planned for Christmas, a few more to figure out. (And I'm not a person who does Christmas early - I like to enjoy fall and Thanksgiving. The Monday after Thanksgiving, I'm all about Christmas.)

I have been thinking about my etsy shop (beccah.etsy.com) and how I really would like to put more effort into that and make it work, especially with the onset of cooler weather and such. I received an email from etsy actually about a Holiday Boot Camp and I'm all for it. So, here's my accountability blog post:

I, Nutmegknitter, pledge to participate in the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp to the best of my abilities. I vow to check in every week, do my homework and support my fellow Holiday Boot Campers. I will read the weekly newsletters and blog posts, check in on the weekly forum thread, read the weekly blog post, check off the checklists and salute the mascot. I promise to share what I've learned with those who need it, support my fellow Etsy indiepreneurs and, most of all, have a positive and persistent attitude. I understand that together we can spread the word about our handmade and vintage goods, making this holiday season a more unique and meaningful one to gift givers and give-ees everywhere!

This should work for my own gifting as well I think.

And while the blog is a really great public space for goal setting, I am still thinking about the specific goals I want to make and meet. I haven't yet decided if I should just keep it to myself in a notebook or put it out there - either way, it's out in the universe for good things to happen right?

9.22.2010

I've come across some great links in the blogs lately and thought I would share, and also to remind myself of them. I use google reader and I love that it is so easy to use from the phone (this has saved me from going out of my mind during the Lorax's tv time).

I made these Apple Brown Betty Muffins from eatathomecooks.com - a dense muffin, would be great with nuts added to it (but I didn't because *some* people around here don't like nuts. Not Me - I love them. Anyway, still delicious). Good snack, good breakfast.

I can't stop playing Pocket Frogs - it's right up there with Words With Friends - I'm nutmegknitter on both if you want to play or be my neighbor. I am still not sure I completely understand the Frogs game - it's like the Sims sort of game. The frogs are cute!

I've got a rather large project pinned to the bed in my guest bedroom - it worked! It's so pretty - I wish I could share it with you, but it is under wraps for a while longer. I am working on some baby hats for my etsy shop. The Lorax seems to be back to normal, so we are on an upswing again. And Glee returns!

9.21.2010

On Monday morning we went in to get up the Lorax. As usual, she requested that her daddy read to her - a "Finding Nemo" book where you have to find items in each of the pictures. A few pages in the Lorax asks, "Where's Nemo's Mommy?"

Thinking to myself, shooting a look at my husband, eyebrows raised, I am so NOT ready to have this conversation with my 2.5 year old!

We told her this is a book about daddies and the baby. Nemo's mommy isn't in the book.

I'm still feeling unsettled about the whole thing. (Note to self: No Time For Flashcards has some good book leads... future reference)

9.20.2010

We checked out the Guilford Fair this weekend. We had to do a bit of explaining with this activity, but we got it.

No explanation is needed when it comes to ice cream.

And my knitting won some ribbons! 2nd place in the Children's Sweater category - the first place / Best in Show piece has a Husky on it. Sure, Go UCONN and all that, but I still think Dachshunds are way cuter!! Especially on that Willie sweater!

I did score a 1st place ribbon on the Malabrigo Dress I knit up last year. The categories are narrow at the fair for the knitting entries, so this went under "Miscellaneous".

That's pretty much it for pictures - the Lorax did way better at the fair this year and I expect that next year we will have to give in and let her do some rides, but this year was good. She could walk next to us or be in the stroller. She was interested in checking things out and seeing the animals. Good times!

9.17.2010

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. (From SouleMama.com)

9.16.2010

I finally have some knitting to show! I finished something, wove in the ends, took some photos and sent it off. Presenting... Maglia Ritorta designed by Jill Wolcott (her website is y2knitpatterns) and knit up in Mountain Meadow Wool - Laramie (their worsted) and the "Sky" colorway. Front.

Back side. (Wow, I need a haircut. I do like how red my hair looks here.)

It's not blocked (per my sample knitting instructions) - it still looks pretty cute. It nicely wraps around your shoulders and being worsted wool created a dense fabric that is quite warm. It blocks out quite nice though - apparently I didn't upload the swatch photo to flickr, but it is on the project page on Ravelry.

I am very pleased to have that project finished. I'm just about done with another super-huge-super-secret project, I'm working on a test knit for a fellow SnB (and I have to say - having friends who have nice taste in yarns makes for a dreamy project. Silk = luscious!!), one "Memorable Women" sock is done and I've got another sample sweater started and then I have also started to think about Christmas gifts...

9.13.2010

Last week, during Hurricane Earl (Thanks for Nothing Earl, by the way), I needed to work on a new project. My knitting projects have been in the blobby-it'll-be-interesting-when-I'm-done-knitting stage and I think because I was working hard to get them done (both deadline projects) my brain just needed a distraction. Anyway, I've had this patchwork wristlet project on my "to-do" list ever since I spotted it. Seems like another great way to practice my sewing skills in addition to trying it out as a potential Christmas gift. I have to say that Pink Penguin puts out a great tutorial! I felt quite comfortable taking it one step at a time - really - I think this project took me most of the day, plus another hour or so on a different day to get acquainted with the zipper foot on my sewing machine. Ta-da!(one of the more difficult items to photograph!) It works! There are plenty of beginner mistakes that I notice and probably most others could to if they took a good look at it, but I can learn from that and the next time I work this up (I am pretty sure I will) I can make adjustments.

Inside. I gave this little wristlet a test run this weekend - it nicely held money, id, lip balm, pack of tissues and my phone. It is really handy and matches my new favorite nail polish quite nicely, in my opinion. Nail polish by the way, is OPI's "Ski Teal We Drop" - September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month and I wanted Teal Toes - love it so much I wanted it on my fingers too - it's a great teal - more blue than green, and it's a solid true color - not frosty or shimmery.

Final thoughts? I think I will make this again - hopefully I can adjust my mistakes to perfect this before giving as a gift (possibly). I may move on instead to a different project, also from "Pink Penguin" - This lunch bag would be great for a knitting bag!

9.07.2010

The Lorax has been quite verbal for the past year or so. We are getting to a point where it dawns on her dad or myself when talking with her that Holy Chickens, We are having an actual conversation with her - not just us telling her something, or her saying a few words here and there to express what she wants. She talks nonstop - usually along the lines of "Daddy, I open the door for you. Don't forget your id and lunch. After work we go to the park. I'll meet you there on saturday with friends. Jackson will bark at you."

Today she really made me giggle (and pause, OMG she's getting to be a real KID! Why does that surprise everyone, me included? She is a person, not a pet!) so I decided to participate in Tiny Talk Tuesday - I hope this will be a good way to keep track of those silly things kids say.

So, this morning the Lorax is drawing and coloring - she's been getting pretty good writing Ls and we're starting to see some circles, but mostly it's scribbles and she tells me what it is. Today she shouted out to me, "Mommy, I draw a diaper!" - What do you know? That's not half bad!! :)

9.02.2010

While I have some difficulty wrapping my head around the fact that it is indeed September, I am more than ready for it. I love summer, I really do - but heat waves I cannot stand. I have had enough - I am ready for cool breezes, layers, cups of tea in the afternoon and evening, eating warm foods and baking in my oven! September also means that sweater weather is coming! And I have finished a new sweater for the Lorax.Jackson a version of Willie. I used Plymouth Encore Chunky (which is fantastic! I love this yarn!) in a mottled grey-brown for the dachshund part which is a pretty good color match to some of Jackson's dappled spots. Same yarn for the body, in a cranberry-ish red. I used Patons Canadiana held doubled for the cuffs and trim. I think my favorite part of this sweater is the ear. Totally makes it. I didn't bother to block the ear flat because I like how it curves or flips up - gives it some dachshund attitude. Jackson snuggled up (and under) the sweater. I tried to get the Lorax in it (even with the promise of her favorite candy, Ms. But she runs away from me shouting "I Don't Want To Wear It!" - and we've had a rough week. Lots of whining. Lots of meltdowns. I'm not looking to start another fight and I'm tired of the tears (crocodile or otherwise). I think that this is going to be long on her - almost like a coat instead of a sweater, but that's fine - maybe we can get a wear or two out of it as an extra layer, this year or next.

About Me

I knit. A lot. I like to make functional things and silly things, and frequently put these items on my mini-dachshund. When I am not knitting or crocheting I am thinking about these things for my clients, as I am an account manager doing social media marketing for yarn companies, yarn shops and designers. It is a great job that I enjoy and I feel incredibly lucky to have. I am able to work from home and enjoy my two children.